U.S. patent application number 13/550027 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-31 for inductance element.
This patent application is currently assigned to MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Masahiro BANDO, Tomoyuki WADA. Invention is credited to Masahiro BANDO, Tomoyuki WADA.
Application Number | 20130027166 13/550027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47575685 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130027166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WADA; Tomoyuki ; et
al. |
January 31, 2013 |
INDUCTANCE ELEMENT
Abstract
This disclosure provides an inductance element including a core,
a conductive wire, and a pair of terminal electrodes. The core
includes an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion formed
on both ends of a winding-core portion, and the conductive wire is
wound around the winding-core portion. End portions of the wire
connect to a pair of terminal electrodes formed on a bottom surface
of the lower flange portion. Each terminal electrode includes a
principal electrode region and a pair of extension electrode
regions extending from the principal electrode region toward
respective side surfaces of the lower flange portion. Each
extension electrode region of each terminal electrode is not formed
on a region of the bottom surface of the lower flange portion
through which one of the end portions of the conductive wires
pass.
Inventors: |
WADA; Tomoyuki; (Kyoto-fu,
JP) ; BANDO; Masahiro; (Kyoto-fu, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WADA; Tomoyuki
BANDO; Masahiro |
Kyoto-fu
Kyoto-fu |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
MURATA MANUFACTURING CO.,
LTD.
Kyoto-fu
JP
|
Family ID: |
47575685 |
Appl. No.: |
13/550027 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
336/192 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01F 17/04 20130101;
H01F 27/29 20130101; H01F 27/306 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
336/192 |
International
Class: |
H01F 27/29 20060101
H01F027/29 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 29, 2011 |
JP |
2011-166897 |
Claims
1. An inductance element comprising: a core including a
winding-core portion and an upper flange portion and a lower flange
portion which are formed on both ends of the winding-core portion;
a conductive wire wound around the winding-core portion; and a pair
of terminal electrodes formed on the lower flange portion, wherein
the lower flange portion has an inner surface, a bottom surface, a
pair of side surfaces, and a pair of end surfaces, the pair of
terminal electrodes each include a principal electrode region
formed on the bottom surface of the lower flange portion and at
least a pair of extension electrode regions, each extension
electrode region of the pair extending from the principal electrode
region toward a respective one of the side surfaces of the lower
flange portion, end portions of the conductive wire are each
connected to one of the terminal electrodes through one of the side
surfaces and the bottom surface of the lower flange portion, and
the extension electrode regions of each terminal electrode are not
formed on a region of the bottom surface of the lower flange
portion through which one of the end portions of the conductive
wire pass.
2. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein a recess
portion through which the conductive wire passes is formed in the
side surface of the lower flange portion.
3. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein the
terminal electrodes each further include an end surface electrode
region formed on the corresponding end surface of the lower flange
portion.
4. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein each
extension electrode region of each terminal electrode has a
step-like portion formed therein and has a plurality of different
lengths from the principal electrode region toward the
corresponding side surface of the lower flange portion.
5. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein each
extension electrode region of each terminal electrode extends to
the respective one of the side surfaces of the lower flange
portion.
6. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
surface of the lower flange portion includes a groove positioned
under each terminal electrode, and the end portions of the
conductive wire are positioned in respective ones of the
grooves.
7. The inductance element according to claim 1, wherein each
extension electrode region of each terminal electrode extends along
the bottom surface adjacent to one of the end surfaces of the lower
flange portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2011-166897 filed on Jul. 29, 2011, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this
application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The technical field relates to an inductance element, and
more specifically relates to an inductance element that can be
mounted on any of land electrodes having a plurality of widths.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As an inductance element used in various electronic devices,
an inductance element is widely known which has a structure in
which a conductive wire is wound around a drum-shaped core and both
ends of the conductive wire are connected to terminal electrodes
formed on the core.
[0004] For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2010-171054 discloses an existing inductance
element having such a structure. FIG. 9 shows an inductance element
800 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2010-171054.
[0005] The inductance element 800 includes a drum-shaped core 101.
The core 101 has a structure in which an upper flange portion 102
and a lower flange portion 103 are formed on both ends of a
winding-core portion (not shown). In FIG. 9, for convenience of
explanation, the inductance element 800 is turned upside down,
namely, is shown such that the upper flange portion 102 is located
on the lower side and the lower flange portion 103 is located on
the upper side.
[0006] The lower flange portion 103 has an inner surface (not
shown) on the winding-core portion side, a bottom surface 103a, a
pair of side surfaces 103b, and a pair of end surfaces 103c. Each
side surface 103b is formed in a shape in which a plurality of
surfaces are connected in series.
[0007] In addition, a conductive wire 104 is wound around the
winding-core portion of the core 101 and covered with an insulating
coating.
[0008] Further, a pair of terminal electrodes 105 is formed on the
bottom surface 103a of the lower flange portion 103 of the core
101. The insulating coating is removed from both end portions 104a
of the conductive wire 104, and both end portions 104a are
connected to the respective terminal electrodes 105, through the
side surface 103b and the bottom surface 103a of the lower flange
portion 103.
[0009] In the inductance element 800, a pair of grooves 103d is
formed in the bottom surface 103a of the lower flange portion 103,
and both end portions 104a of the conductive wire 104 are
accommodated in the grooves 103d. In addition, the terminal
electrodes 105 are formed by burying solder in recesses (not shown)
provided in the bottom surface 103a of the lower flange portion
103. However, the grooves 103b are not necessarily needed. In
addition, the terminal electrodes 105 are generally formed by
burning a silver paste onto the bottom surface 103a of the lower
flange portion 103, rather than by burying the solder in the
recesses.
[0010] However, when being mounted by means of reflow soldering
using cream solder or the like, the existing inductance element 800
described above can appropriately be mounted on a land electrode
having a specific width, but cannot appropriately be mounted on a
land electrode having a width other than the specific width.
[0011] In other words, besides the inductor element, for an
electronic component, a recommended land electrode dimension is
often specified by its manufacturer or distributor (hereinafter,
referred to "manufacturer etc."). For example, an A company, which
is a manufacturer etc., recommends a pair of land electrodes
(hereinafter, referred to as "narrow land electrodes 201") each
having a width of about 1.0 mm and a length of about 0.9 mm and
arranged so as to face each other at an interval of about 0.8 mm as
shown in FIG. 10A, and manufactures and sells inductance elements
including terminal electrodes corresponding to these land
electrodes. Meanwhile, a B company, which is another manufacturer
etc., recommends a pair of land electrodes (hereinafter, referred
to as "wide land electrodes 202") each having a width of about 1.6
mm and a length of about 0.65 mm and arranged so as to face each
other at an interval of about 0.7 mm as shown in FIG. 10B, and
manufactures and sells inductance elements including terminal
electrodes corresponding to these land electrodes.
[0012] It is noted that mounting of an inductance element is
conducted by applying cream solder or the like to the surfaces of
the narrow land electrodes 201 or wide land electrodes 202 formed
on a substrate, disposing the inductance element thereon, putting
the substrate into a tunnel furnace or the like, heating the
substrate in the tunnel furnace or the like, taking out the
substrate from the tunnel furnace or the like, and cooling the
substrate.
[0013] Since each terminal electrode 105 is formed so as to have a
width of about 1.0 mm, the inductance element 800 can appropriately
be mounted on the narrow land electrodes 201 as shown in FIG. 11A
(In FIG. 11A, portions of the narrow land electrodes 201 which are
hidden by the inductance element 800 are shown by dotted lines, and
the terminal electrodes 105, which cannot be seen since the
terminal electrodes 105 are formed on the bottom surface of the
inductance element 800, are shown by dotted lines with hatching.
The same applies to FIGS. 11B, 13A, and 13B.).
[0014] However, when the inductance element 800 is mounted on the
wide land electrodes 202, the inductance element 800 may rotate on
the wide land electrodes 202 as shown in FIG. 11B. This is because
when heating is conducted and cream solder is melted, the position
of the inductance element 800 is not stabilized and the inductance
element 800 moves.
[0015] In order to appropriately mount the inductance element on
the wide land electrodes 202, the terminal electrodes have to be
formed so as to have large widths. FIG. 12 shows another existing
inductance element 900 in which the widths of the terminal
electrodes 105 of the inductance element 800 are increased.
[0016] In the inductance element 900, each terminal electrode 115
is formed so as to have a width of about 1.6 mm. The other
configuration of the inductance element 900 is the same as that of
the inductance element 800 described above.
[0017] As a result, the inductance element 900 can appropriately be
mounted on the wide land electrodes 202 as shown in FIG. 13A.
[0018] However, when the inductance element 900 is mounted on the
narrow land electrodes 201, the inductance element 900 may shift to
one side of the narrow land electrodes 201 as shown in FIG. 13B.
This is because when heating is conducted and cream solder is
melted, the position of the inductance element 900 is not
stabilized and the inductance element 900 moves.
[0019] As described above, when the existing inductance element 800
or 900 is mounted by means of reflow soldering using cream solder
or the like, the inductance element can appropriately be mounted on
land electrodes each having a specific width, but cannot
appropriately be mounted on land electrodes each having a width
other than the specific width. In other words, if the dimensions of
the land electrodes recommended by the A company and the B company
are different from each other, only the inductance element of the A
company can be mounted on the land electrodes recommended by the A
company, only the inductance element of the B company can be
mounted on the land electrodes recommended by the B company, and
each inductance element is not compatible with the land electrodes
of the other company.
[0020] It is noted that in the existing inductance element 900 in
which each terminal electrode 115 has an increased width, it is
difficult to find breakage of the conductive wire 104. In other
words, each end portion 104a of the conductive wire 104 is
connected to the terminal electrode 115 formed on the bottom
surface 103a of the lower flange portion 103, through the side
surface 103b of the lower flange portion 103, and the conductive
wire 104 is likely to be broken near the side formed by the side
surface 103b and the bottom surface 103a of the lower flange
portion 103. However, when each terminal electrode 115 having an
increased width is present on the bottom surface 103a of the lower
flange portion 103 and near the side formed by the side surface
103b and the bottom surface 103a, breakage of the conductive wire
104 in this portion is easily overlooked during inspection with
naked eyes. In other words, the conductive wire 104, from which the
insulating coating is removed, and each terminal electrode 115 have
metal colors, and thus it may be erroneously determined that the
conductive wire 104 is not broken, even if the conductive wire 104
is broken.
SUMMARY
[0021] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an
inductance element includes a core including a winding-core portion
and an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion which are
formed on both ends of the winding-core portion. A conductive wire
is wound around the winding-core portion. A pair of terminal
electrodes is formed on the lower flange portion. The lower flange
portion has an inner surface, a bottom surface, a pair of side
surfaces, and a pair of end surfaces. The pair of terminal
electrodes each includes a principal electrode region formed on the
bottom surface of the lower flange portion and at least a pair of
extension electrode regions. Each of the pair of extension
electrode regions extends from the principal electrode region
toward a respective one of the side surfaces of the lower flange
portion. End portions of the conductive wire are each connected to
one of the terminal electrodes through one of the side surfaces and
the bottom surface of the lower flange portion. The extension
electrode regions of each terminal electrode are not formed on a
region of the bottom surface of the lower flange portion through
which one of the end portions of the conductive wire pass.
[0022] In a more specific embodiment, a recess portion through
which the conductive wire passes may be formed in the side surface
of the lower flange portion.
[0023] In another more specific embodiment, the terminal electrodes
may each further include an end surface electrode region formed on
the corresponding end surface of the lower flange portion.
[0024] In yet another more specific embodiment, each extension
electrode region of each terminal electrode may have a step-like
portion formed therein and has a plurality of different lengths
from the principal electrode region toward the corresponding side
surface of the lower flange portion.
[0025] In another more specific embodiment, each extension
electrode region of each terminal electrode may extend to the
respective one of the side surfaces of the lower flange
portion.
[0026] Other features, elements, and characteristics, and
advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an inductance element
according to a first exemplary embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 1B is a bottom view showing the inductance element of
FIG. 1A.
[0029] FIG. 2A is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIGS. 1A and 1B is mounted on narrow land
electrodes.
[0030] FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIGS. 1A and 1B is mounted on wide land electrodes.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a second exemplary embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a third exemplary embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a fifth exemplary embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a sixth exemplary embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing an inductance element
according to a seventh exemplary embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an existing inductance
element.
[0038] FIG. 10A is a plan view showing narrow land electrodes.
[0039] FIG. 10B is a plan view showing wide land electrodes.
[0040] FIG. 11A is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIG. 9 is mounted on the narrow land electrodes.
[0041] FIG. 11B is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIG. 9 is mounted on the wide land electrodes.
[0042] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another existing
inductance element.
[0043] FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIG. 12 is mounted on the wide land electrodes.
[0044] FIG. 13B is a plan view showing a state where the inductance
element of FIG. 12 is mounted on the narrow land electrodes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Hereinafter, embodiments for practicing the present
invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0046] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an inductance element 100 according to
a first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and
FIG. 1B is a bottom view.
[0047] The inductance element 100 includes a drum-shaped core 1
formed from ferrite or the like. The core 1 has a structure in
which an upper flange portion 2 and a lower flange portion 3 are
formed on both ends of a winding-core portion (not shown). In FIG.
1A, for convenience of explanation, the inductance element 100 is
turned upside down, namely, is shown such that the upper flange
portion 2 is located on the lower side and the lower flange portion
3 is located on the upper side. The core 1 may be formed from a
magnetic material such as ferrite or may be formed from a
nonmagnetic material such as alumina.
[0048] The lower flange portion 3 has an inner surface (not shown)
on the winding-core portion side, a bottom surface 3a on the back
side to the inner surface, a pair of side surfaces 3b, and a pair
of end surfaces 3c. Each side surface 3b is formed in a shape in
which a plurality of surfaces are connected in series, and a recess
portion 3e for passing a conductive wire 4 therethrough is formed
by these surfaces.
[0049] In addition, the conductive wire 4 is wound around the
winding-core portion of the core 1, is covered with an insulating
coating such as polyurethane, and is formed from Cu, Ag, or the
like.
[0050] Further, a pair of terminal electrodes 5 is formed on the
bottom surface 3a of the lower flange portion 3 of the core 1. The
terminal electrodes 5 are formed, for example, by burning a silver
paste, a copper paste, or the like.
[0051] Each terminal electrode 5 has, in the bottom surface 3a of
the lower flange portion 3, a principal electrode region 5a and at
least a pair of extension electrode regions 5b extending from the
principal electrode region 5a toward the respective side surfaces
3b of the lower flange portion 3. Further, each terminal electrode
5 has an end surface electrode region 5c on the corresponding end
surface 3c of the lower flange portion 3. In FIG. 1B, a dotted line
is shown between each principal electrode region 5a and each
extension electrode region 5b for the sake of explanation, and both
regions are actually formed integral with each other.
[0052] Each principal electrode region 5a serves to enable mounting
on the narrow land electrode 201 shown in FIG. 10A, and has a width
of about 1.0 mm. Meanwhile, each extension electrode region 5b
serves to enable mounting on the wide land electrode 202 shown in
FIG. 10B, and the width from an end of one extension electrode
region 5b to an end of the other extension electrode region 5b is
about 1.6 mm. Each end surface electrode region 5c allows a solder
fillet to be formed between this region and a land electrode to
strengthen joining, and also serves to appropriately adjust the
mounting position.
[0053] The insulating coating is in advance removed from both end
portions 4a of the conductive wire 4, and both end portions 4a are
then connected to the respective terminal electrodes 5 through the
respective side surface 3b and the bottom surface 3a of the lower
flange portion 3.
[0054] Near the connection portion between each end portion 4a of
the conductive wire 4 and each terminal electrode 5 in the bottom
surface 3a of the lower flange portion 3, the extension electrode
regions 5b of the terminal electrode 5 are not formed and the
bottom surface 3a of the lower flange portion 3 is exposed. Thus,
even when the conductive wire 4 is broken near the side formed by
the side surface 3b and the bottom surface 3a of the lower flange
portion 3, the breakage can easily be found. Therefore, a defective
product is not erroneously shipped as a non-defective product.
[0055] In the embodiment, each side surface 3b of the lower flange
portion 3 is formed in a shape in which a plurality of surfaces are
connected in series (i.e., continuously in series), and the recess
portion 3e is formed in the side surface 3b by these surfaces.
Therefore, since the conductive wire 4 passes through the recess
portions 3e, the positions through which the conductive wire 4
passes in the side surface 3b of the lower flange portion 3 are
stable.
[0056] The inductance element 100 having such a structure,
according to the first exemplary embodiment, can be produced, for
example, by the following method.
[0057] First, the drum-shaped core 1 which includes the upper
flange portion 2 and the lower flange portion 3 on both ends of the
winding-core portion is produced. Specifically, powder of ferrite,
alumina, or the like is loaded into a mold having a predetermined
shape, and the mold is pressurized to obtain a compact.
Subsequently, the compact is fired at a predetermined profile to
obtain the core 1.
[0058] Next, the pair of terminal electrodes 5 is formed on the
core 1. Specifically, a silver paste or a copper paste is printed
in a desired shape on the bottom surface 3a and the end surfaces 3c
of the lower flange portion 3 of the core 1.
[0059] Next, the conductive wire 4 is wound around the winding-core
portion of the core 1. Specifically, one end portion 4a of the
conductive wire 4 is fixed to a clamp mechanism, and then the
conductive wire 4 is wound by using a wire-supply nozzle or the
like.
[0060] Next, both end portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 are
immersed in an insulating coating remover to remove the insulating
coating therefrom.
[0061] Finally, both end portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 are
compressed by a compressing jig and connected to the terminal
electrodes 5 to complete the inductance element 100. When both end
portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 are connected to the terminal
electrodes 5, both end portions 4a may be heated or ultrasonic
vibrations may be provided thereto, in addition to compression.
[0062] Next, a mounted state of the inductance element 100
according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described.
[0063] Since the principal electrode region 5a of each terminal
electrode 5 is formed so as to have a width of about 1.0 mm, the
inductance element 100 can appropriately be mounted on the narrow
land electrodes 201 each having a width of about 1.0 mm in a width
direction, as shown in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2A, a portion of each
narrow land electrode 201, which is hidden by the inductance
element 100, is shown by a dotted line, each terminal electrode 5,
which cannot be seen since the terminal electrode 5 is formed on
the bottom surface of the inductance element 100, is shown by a
dotted line with hatching, and the same applies to FIG. 2B.
[0064] In addition, since each terminal electrode 5 has a width of
about 1.6 mm from an end of one extension electrode region 5b to an
end of the other extension electrode region 5b, the inductance
element 100 can appropriately be mounted also on the wide land
electrodes 202 each having a width of 1.6 mm in the width
direction, as shown in FIG. 2B.
[0065] As described above, the inductance element 100 according to
the first exemplary embodiment can favorably be mounted on any of
the narrow land electrodes 201 and the wide land electrodes 202
having different widths.
[0066] The structure, an example of the manufacturing method, and
the mounted state of the inductance element 100 according to the
first exemplary embodiment been described. However, the present
disclosure is not limited to the above content, and various
modifications can be made according to the gist of the
disclosure.
[0067] For example, in the inductance element 100, the width of
each principal electrode region 5a is about 1.0 mm, and the width
from the end of one extension electrode region 5b to the end of the
other extension electrode region 5b is about 1.6 mm, but the width
dimensions are not limited to these widths and can be changed as
appropriate according to mounted land electrodes.
[0068] FIG. 3 shows an inductance element 200 according to a second
exemplary embodiment.
[0069] In the inductance element 200, a pair of grooves 13d for
accommodating both end portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 is
provided in the bottom surface 13a of the lower flange portion 13.
The other configuration of the inductance element 200 is the same
as that of the inductance element 100 according to the first
exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0070] In the inductance element 200, since the grooves 13d for
accommodating both end portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 are
formed in the bottom surface 13a of the lower flange portion 13,
both end portions 4a of the conductive wire 4 do not project from
the bottom surface 13a of the lower flange portion 13. Therefore,
the inductance element 200 is decreased in height than the
inductance element 100.
[0071] FIG. 4 shows an inductance element 300 according to a third
exemplary embodiment.
[0072] In the inductance element 300, extension electrode regions
15b of each terminal electrode 15 are formed so as to extend from a
principal electrode region 15a to the sides formed by the bottom
surface 3a and the side surfaces 3b of the lower flange portion 3.
The other configuration of the inductance element 300 is the same
as that of the inductance element 100 according to the first
exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0073] In the inductance element 300, the width of the lower flange
portion 3 can be adjusted to a width from an end of one extension
electrode region 15b to an end of the other extension electrode
region 15b, which width is determined and adjusted to a mounted
land electrode. In other words, the width of the lower flange
portion 3 can be decreased to a required minimum and the inductance
element 300 can be decreased in size.
[0074] FIG. 5 shows an inductance element 400 according to a fourth
exemplary embodiment.
[0075] In the inductance element 400, a pair of extension electrode
regions 25b is formed so as to extend from a principal electrode
region 25a of each terminal electrode 25 toward the side surfaces
3b of the lower flange portion 3 along the end surface 3c of the
lower flange portion 3. The other configuration of the inductance
element 400 is the same as that of the inductance element 100
according to the first exemplary embodiment, which is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0076] As described above, the extension electrode regions 25b of
each terminal electrode 25 can be formed in arbitrary positions.
The inductance element 400 can also favorably be mounted on any of
two types of land electrodes having different widths.
[0077] FIG. 6 shows an inductance element 500 according to a fifth
exemplary embodiment.
[0078] In the inductance element 500, two pairs of extension
electrode regions 35b are formed so as to extend from a principal
electrode region 35a of each terminal electrode 35 toward the
respective side surfaces 3b of the lower flange portion 3. In other
words, the extension electrode regions 35b are formed on both sides
of the connection portion between each end portion 4a of the
conductive wire 4 and the terminal electrode 35. The other
configuration of the inductance element 500 is the same as that of
the inductance element 100 according to the first exemplary
embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0079] As described above, the number of pairs of extension
electrode regions 35b provided in each terminal electrode 35 is
arbitrary, and the inductance element 500 can also favorably be
mounted on any of two types of land electrodes having different
widths.
[0080] FIG. 7 shows an inductance element 600 according to a sixth
exemplary embodiment.
[0081] In the inductance element 600, a pair of extension electrode
regions 45b is formed so that each extension electrode region 45b
extends from a principal electrode region 45a of each terminal
electrode 45 toward the side surfaces 3b of the lower flange
portion 3, each has a step-like portion formed therein, and each
has two different lengths in the width direction. In other words,
as shown in FIG. 7, each extension electrode region 45b has two
different lengths L1 and L2 from the principal electrode region 45a
toward the side surface 3b of the lower flange portion 3. The other
configuration of the inductance element 600 is the same as that of
the inductance element 100 according to the first exemplary
embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0082] As described above, when the step-like portion is formed in
each extension electrode region 45b such that each extension
electrode region 45b has two different lengths, the principal
electrode region and each extension region allow mounting on any of
land electrodes having three different widths.
[0083] FIG. 8 shows an inductance element 700 according to a
seventh exemplary embodiment.
[0084] In the inductance element 700, the corners of each terminal
electrode 55 are substantially rounded. In other words, the corners
of each principal electrode region 55a and each extension electrode
region 55b are substantially rounded. The other configuration of
the inductance element 700 is the same as that of the inductance
element 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment, which is
shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0085] As described above, the corners of the terminal electrodes
do not have to be at right angles, and may be substantially rounded
as in the terminal electrodes 55 of the embodiment.
[0086] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, since
the principal electrode region and at least the pair of extension
electrode regions extending from the principal electrode region
toward the respective side surfaces of the lower flange portion are
provided, the inductance element can be mounted on any of land
electrodes having a plurality of different widths.
[0087] In addition, according to embodiments of the present
disclosure, since the extension electrode regions of each terminal
electrode are not formed on the region of the bottom surface of the
lower flange portion through which both end portions of the
conductive wire pass, when the conductive wire is broken near the
region, the breakage can easily be found.
[0088] In an embodiment in which a recess portion through which the
conductive wire passes is formed in the side surface of the lower
flange portion, during manufacturing, mounting, or the like, even
when an object (an apparatus, a jig, another electronic component,
etc.) unexpectedly collides with the side surface of the lower
flange portion, the conductive wire is not broken easily.
[0089] In an embodiment in which the terminal electrodes each
further include an end surface electrode region formed on the
corresponding end surface of the lower flange portion, after
mounting, a solder fillet can be formed between the end surface
electrode region and the land electrode, and thus strong joining
can be realized.
[0090] In an embodiment in which each extension electrode region of
each terminal electrode includes a step-like portion formed therein
and has a plurality of different lengths from the principal
electrode region toward the corresponding side surface of the lower
flange portion, for example, when each extension electrode region
has two different lengths, the inductance element allows mounting
on any of land electrodes having three different widths using the
principal electrode region and each extension electrode region.
[0091] While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it is
to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent
to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and
spirit of the disclosure.
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